My Travel Config
For those of you who missed the newsletter the other day, here’s the portion on how I configured my bags/gear for Scotland and the USA…
I’m still sticking with the Sony A7R series for my main camera body. Primarily with the 24-105 G which is just so amazingly flexible and all I really carry each day. When I need a quickfire shot, my Pixel 7 Pro does the job really well and up in the air I’ve moved on from the Mavic Pro series to a mix of Mavic Air 2S with its 1-inch sensor and the latest DJI Mini which is so small and light but creates great pano images. Small/light is the way to go drone wise.
My system for getting these, and all my other stuff, about revolves around 2 Peak Design Travel Backpacks. I wear them both at the same time, with one holding all my clothes and boring stuff on my back and one with all my gear and cool stuff on my front like some sort of mutant turtle. Oh, that reminds me… my current Tripod is the Peak Design Travel Tripod in Carbon Fiber. Super lightweight/compact and easy to get around.
Stu had a similar sort of system going on… just a bit more loosely packed as Scotland is home to him, so he didn’t need to minimise like me for international travel. So bag 1 for Stu… Travel Backpack (all sorts of random camera stuff we might need, like chargers, extra lenses and the like). Configured with their various packing cubes. Bag 2 was an Everyday Backpack for clothes and bag 3 the same but containing core photography gear, including an Everyday Sling slid into the top where it fits nicely, containing the drone of the day.
So that, and the Insta360 X3 just about covers it. All of the above items very much recommended and used to create all the images you’ve seen from Scotland.
Here’s an ultra-glamorous behind the scenes shot of me, minus the bags…

A Palate cleanser
Daily Photo – A Palate cleanser
It’s all been very Scottish around here for the past month or two… and I’ve a bunch more images to share although some are locked up in an NDA for a while and will need to wait. Anyway, for today i thought I’d offer you a little palate cleanser, something completely different to more Scottish landscapes. I’ve spent a bunch of time recently in the US with family, which has been awesome as I don’t get to see them enough, and on the way I took a little stop to visit an art gallery/exhibition/event in L.A. before heading on to Austin. Here’s a little shot I grabbed from there.
A Quick Reminder…
… that if you’re at Burning Man, head over to Prism tonight at 1am to see some of my Machine Elf fractals running behind the DJ on a massive, super cool triangular screen!
Prism at Burning Man on Friday Night
If you’re at Burning Man, be sure to head over to the Prism art car at 1am on Friday night (so really Saturday morning to catch the awesome DJ/musician/artist Alex Cruz, backed by my Machine Elf creations on a massive custom screen… a 40’W x 20’H triangular video wall!
NYC Bound!
Daily Photo – NYC Bound!
Heading to NYC soon for a Machine Elf event in Brooklyn is going to be a one-of-a-kind experience that combines art, technology, and imagination. This event promises to be nothing short of extraordinary. But that’s not all! I’m also hard at work preparing for an unforgettable Machine Elf event at Burning Man. It’s the perfect place to showcase the full range of Machine Elf creations with our signature blend of psychedelic visuals and mind-altering concepts, we are ready to take participants on a JOURNEY they won’t soon forget.
And let’s not forget the annual photo walk! Every year, I gather with fellow photography enthusiasts in the awe-inspiring desert to capture the essence of Burning Man through our lenses. The barren landscapes and striking art of the playa provide the perfect backdrop for capturing stunning shots that encapsulate the spirit of this unique gathering. It’s always a joy to see familiar faces and meet new friends as we explore the surreal beauty of our surroundings together.
So, gear up, get ready, and join me on these exciting adventures ahead. Follow @machine_elf_worlds on IG for updates and stay tuned for more details. See you in the concrete jungle of Brooklyn and the dusty embrace of Burning Man!
By the Light of the Cabin
Daily Photo – By the Light of the Cabin
I had a wonderful week here in Montana. I’ve been lucky enough to be invited to this private conference here in Yellowstone a few times now. We get together and talk about science, art, Libertarianism and all sorts… It’s a very cool and interesting collection of people each time. One evening while processing my thoughts I took a walk around the main cabin. The horses come graze all around the meadow in the evening and I finally convinced one of them to stand still for a bit.